Thomas AWMM

Hilditch AWMM

Male AWMM

Married AWMM

New Zealand Wars AWMM

Army AWMM

• New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal AWMM
• Imperial (New Zealand) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal AWMM

New Zealand Wars Colour-Sergeant/Military AWMM

2 June 1914 AWMM
Northcote, North Shore City AWMM

91 Public - Gina - Researcher - 17 August 2019 - online Council cemetery records and my personal cemetery research and mapping

Northcote, Auckland, NZ Public - Gina - Researcher - 17 August 2019 - death notice

Pompallier Cemetery, intersection Pupuke and Glenfield Roads, Northcote. Anglican, Block A, plot 7. Public - Gina - Researcher - 17 August 2019 - Birkenhead Anglican Parish Cemetery is the new name for Pompallier, not to be confused with Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, on the same street but at the corner of Glenfield and Eskdale Roads, Glenfield

DEATH OF A VETERAN. New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15624, 2 June 1914, Page 8.

COLOUR-SERGEANT HILDITCH. The death occuned early on Saturday morning at Northcote of Mr. Thomas Hilditch at the age of 91 years. After an interesting career in the British Army in which he rose to the position of Colour Sergeant of Her Majesty's 80th Regiment. After engaging in active service in India. Mr. Hilditch came to New Zealand in the ship John Scott in 1867, conducting the salt-water baths on the site of the present Auckland Freezing Works. The deceased removed to Northcote in 1884 and has resided there ever since. He is survived by his widow.
The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon and was largely attended, those present including the Mayor and members of the Northcote Borough Council, the Birkenhead territorials (Under Leutenant J. Horeman) and cadets comprising representatives. from 53rd (Northcotej, and 54th (Birkenhead) and other companies under Sergeant Major Hopkins and Lieutenant Hatrick (Kings's Veterans). Quarter Master Sergeant F. J. Jackson and the Northcote Boy Scounts (under Scoutmaster A. W. Potter).
The interment took place in the Birkenhead anglican Cemetery. The firing party consisted of the Northcote section of the B Platoon (under Leiutenant Horneman), Bugler W. Satchell playing "The Last Post".

The deceased's military career was full of incident. He first inlisted in the Queen's second foot. Three months later he joined Her Majesty's 80th Regiment at Manchester (his birthplace) in January, 1843, proceeding to Sydney in the following June, the voyage occupying five months. Under the command of Colonel Bunberry, the regiment left for Indian in 1844, being wrecked in the ship Briton (Captain Hall) on the Andaman islands. Here they attacked on two of three occasions by wild natives by whom they were surrounded. The ship Runnymede, from Gravesend (London) with troops, was also wrecked on this island and after putting a deck on the Runnymede's lifeboat, a joint party made Copany, with the result ath a gunboat was despatched to the relief of the 500 marooned troops, who were landed at Culcutta in January 1845.

By steamboat they proceeded up the Ganges River to Allahabad and marched on to Agra to join the headquarters of the 80th Regiment. They remained there one season proceeding to the Sikh War, in which they took part. The deceased was offered the rank of Sergeant by Colonel Bunberry for bravery but declined. In 1848 he was made Corporal and on returning to England was promoted to Sergeant. He then went recruiting as Acting Sergeant-Major at Manchester in 1854, remaining there till 1859, when he volunteered for India, went to Liverpool and took boat to Cork (Ireland), arriving one day too late to catch the boat to India. He remained in Ireland, being promoted to Colour-Sergeant.

In 1864 he claimed his discharge after 21 years service. In 1886, he received the medal for meritorious service, carrying a pension of 15pounds per annum. Other medals included one for long service and good conduct and that for the three engagements of Moodkhee, Ferozeshah and Sobraon. AWMM